Phyllocoptes gracilis ( Nalepa, 1890 )

Pye, Daniel R. L. & Lillo, Enrico De, 2010, A review of the eriophyoid mites (Acari: Eriophyoidea) on Rubus spp. in Britain, with a new species (Diptilomiopidae) and two new records, Zootaxa 2677, pp. 15-26 : 18-19

Phyllocoptes gracilis ( Nalepa, 1890)

( Fig. 4 )

Phyllocoptes rubi ( Whitehead, 1892) Phyllocoptes parviflori Keifer, 1939 Type host and locality. Rubus idaeus L., from an unknown location. Amrine & Stasny (1994) listed the type locality as “ Austria?”, however Nalepa described the species from samples collected by Schlechtendal, who worked in Germany.

Distribution. Widespread in Europe, USA, China and Russia on many species of Rubus ( Keifer, 1975; de Lillo & Duso, 1996; Song et al., 2006). This species has not been formally recorded from Australia, but may be present in Tasmania ( Scott et al., 2008).

Relation to the host. Causes mottling, yellowing, or discolouration to the foliage. The leaves can be crumpled and the berries may ripen prematurely and become dry.

Collection data. England, North Yorkshire, Burythorpe, high numbers of adult females, males and nymphs on the underside of the leaves of wild Rubus sp., 29.iv.2009, collected by J. C. Ostojá-Starzewski; England, Somerset, Frome, commercial plant nursery site, low numbers of adult females, males and nymphs on Rubus sp., 18.vi.2009, collected by Miranda Baldwin (Plant Health and Seeds Inspector).

Remarks. Phyllocoptes gracilis was first reported in Britain, as Phyllocoptes rubi , by Whitehead (1892), and later recorded by Bagnall and Harrison (1917 & 1928), Burkhill (1930) and Turk (1953). However, these records were apparently based on observed host damage symptoms alone and cannot be verified. Massee (1961) confirmed P. gracilis from slide-mounted specimens collected from R. idaeus, Raspberry, Himalaya Berry and Blackberry , from East Malling, Kent, and reported P. gracilis as “common.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Digital micrographs of the prodorsal shield and coxigenital region. Phyllocoptes gracilis. Mature protogyne female. Scale bar: 20 µm.